{"id":17170,"date":"2026-10-14T20:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T20:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/?p=17170"},"modified":"2026-10-14T20:34:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T20:34:26","slug":"kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kraken&#8217;s parent company, Payward, has signed an agreement to acquire a European bank as part of its strategy to expand traditional banking and cryptocurrency-related financial services across Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Announced on October 14, 2026, the deal involves the acquisition of Finland-based Saldo Finance Oy, the parent company of Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed acquisition could give Payward access to established banking infrastructure, including deposit services, consumer lending, business financing, and payment cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transaction is expected to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the financial terms have not been disclosed, the agreement represents a significant step in Payward&#8217;s efforts to connect digital asset services with traditional banking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kraken Parent Payward Expands Into European Banking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward&#8217;s proposed acquisition of Saldo Finance would bring an established European banking business into the company&#8217;s growing financial services operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saldo Finance owns Saldo Bank UAB, a specialized banking institution licensed in Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bank currently operates in Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. It also holds authorization to extend services into the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the acquisition, Payward plans to expand its banking presence across these five European markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than building every banking service from the beginning, the company aims to use Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing licenses, infrastructure, and operational experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach could help Payward introduce additional financial products while working within established regulatory frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the proposed acquisition does not mean that all Kraken customers will immediately gain access to banking products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New services will depend on regulatory permissions, product development, and the successful integration of the businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Banking Services Could Payward Offer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The acquisition would allow Payward to build on Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing financial products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the company&#8217;s announcement, its planned services include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Interest-bearing deposits:<\/strong> Banking products that allow eligible customers to earn interest on qualifying deposits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consumer loans:<\/strong> Financing options for eligible individual borrowers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Business lending:<\/strong> Secured and unsecured loans for companies and small businesses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Payment cards:<\/strong> Card-based products supporting everyday payments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Banking-as-a-service:<\/strong> Infrastructure that allows financial technology companies to integrate banking products into their platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Euro payments:<\/strong> Access to payment infrastructure supporting transactions through the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These services could broaden Payward&#8217;s business beyond cryptocurrency trading and digital asset custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For customers, the longer-term goal is a financial platform that supports moving money, accessing credit, managing assets, and making payments through connected services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Payward has not announced which products will be offered to Kraken users first or when those services might become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saldo Bank Already Operates Across Several European Countries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saldo Bank has established operations in multiple European financial markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its current products include consumer lending, business financing, and term deposits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the announcement, the bank offers term deposits across its four existing operating markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumer lending is available in Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden, while business lending operates in Lithuania and Finland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saldo has also introduced credit cards in Finland and expects to expand that service into Sweden in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company maintains partnerships with fintech businesses in Finland and Germany, allowing those firms to provide lending services using Saldo&#8217;s banking infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These existing operations are an important part of the proposed acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of acquiring only a banking license, Payward would gain access to an institution with established customers, financial products, technology, and operational systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saldo Bank&#8217;s European Banking License Adds Value<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the key attractions of the acquisition is Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing regulatory authorization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The institution received a specialized banking license from the European Central Bank in October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This authorization allows it to conduct permitted banking activities, including accepting deposits, providing loans, and offering payment-related services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bank of Lithuania supervises the institution within its applicable regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Payward, acquiring an existing bank could provide a foundation for expanding regulated financial services in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, banking licenses come with specific obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Capital requirements, customer protection rules, compliance procedures, and regulatory supervision will continue to affect how the acquired institution operates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transaction itself also requires approval before ownership can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing authorization should not be interpreted as immediate approval for every product Payward may want to introduce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payward Plans to Combine Banking and Fintech Infrastructure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond consumer banking, Saldo Bank has developed financial technology systems that support lending and payment services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its banking-as-a-service infrastructure enables partner companies to integrate financial products into their existing applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bank also uses automated lending assessments and embedded financing arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward intends to build on these capabilities as it develops its broader financial services platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could allow the company to provide banking infrastructure to fintech businesses while introducing additional products to eligible customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jarkko M\u00e4ensivu, president of Saldo Bank, highlighted the importance of building useful financial services around a banking license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He explained that Saldo has developed operations and lending infrastructure serving several European markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By combining those capabilities with Payward&#8217;s existing financial services business, the companies hope to reach a wider customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed integration could eventually support a platform bringing together banking, payments, credit, and digital asset services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the announcement does not establish that cryptocurrency accounts and conventional bank deposits will automatically become interchangeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kraken Parent Payward Has Been Building Banking Services in the U.S.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward&#8217;s European expansion follows several banking-related developments in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company already operates Kraken Financial, a Wyoming-chartered financial institution focused on digital asset-related banking services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In March 2026, Kraken Financial received approval for a limited-purpose Federal Reserve master account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The arrangement provides specific access to U.S. central bank payment infrastructure under applicable conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it is not equivalent to unrestricted access to every Federal Reserve service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The approval also attracted attention from banking industry groups, which raised questions about regulatory safeguards and the treatment of cryptocurrency-focused financial institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward has continued pursuing additional banking authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On May 8, 2026, it applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Payward National Trust Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed institution would provide regulated custody and fiduciary services for digital assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That application remains separate from the Saldo Bank transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the U.S. trust company proposal focuses on custody, Saldo Bank already provides conventional lending and deposit products in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payward Reports More Than $2 Billion in Lending Activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its October 14 announcement, Payward said its existing operations had originated more than $2 billion in loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The figure reflects lending activity already completed within the group&#8217;s financial services business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It should not be confused with new lending expected from the Saldo Bank acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward also highlighted its Irish electronic money institution license, issued by the Central Bank of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together with its U.S. banking infrastructure, these permissions form part of a broader strategy to develop regulated financial products across different markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward co-CEO Arjun Sethi described the company&#8217;s banking expansion as the continuation of an existing strategy rather than a new direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Sethi, Payward has spent years developing financial infrastructure through different licenses, institutions, and jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed Saldo acquisition would add European deposit-taking and lending capabilities to that network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kraken&#8217;s European Crypto Licenses Support Broader Expansion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward&#8217;s decision to acquire Saldo Bank follows Kraken&#8217;s expansion into regulated cryptocurrency services across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June 2025, Kraken secured authorization under the European Union&#8217;s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) through the Central Bank of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The authorization supported the exchange&#8217;s ability to provide regulated cryptocurrency services across the European Economic Area, subject to applicable requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kraken has also developed European derivatives operations through a Cyprus-based investment firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These activities operate under financial rules different from those governing traditional deposit-taking and lending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Acquiring Saldo Bank would add another regulated business to Payward&#8217;s European operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move could allow the company to develop services beyond cryptocurrency exchange trading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it does not automatically extend Saldo Bank&#8217;s banking permissions to all Kraken products or customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each activity must operate within the relevant regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payward Strengthens Global Payment Infrastructure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside its banking expansion, Payward has been developing payment and settlement services for institutional customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In October 2026, Payward and Singapore Gulf Bank introduced a settlement arrangement designed to support U.S. dollar transfers around the clock for selected institutional clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initial service focused on customers in Asia and the Gulf region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The companies also outlined plans to expand support for additional currencies and customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such partnerships demonstrate Payward&#8217;s interest in improving financial infrastructure connecting traditional currencies and digital asset markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Saldo Bank acquisition represents another part of that strategy, this time focused on European banking capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward has also been exploring financial products involving tokenized equities, cryptocurrency trading, and wealth management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the company has not confirmed when these offerings might be integrated with Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing lending and deposit services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does the Acquisition Mean for Kraken Customers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed acquisition could eventually give eligible Kraken and Payward customers access to a wider range of financial services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, customers might benefit from more integrated payment systems, conventional financing options, or improved access to euro-based banking services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses using Payward&#8217;s financial infrastructure could also gain access to lending and payment capabilities built on Saldo Bank&#8217;s existing systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, these possibilities remain dependent on future product announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward has not yet disclosed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which banking products will be introduced to Kraken customers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether deposit accounts will be integrated directly into Kraken&#8217;s platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which European countries will receive new services first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When consumer or business lending will become available through Payward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How the acquired bank&#8217;s services will interact with cryptocurrency products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customers should therefore distinguish between the announced acquisition and future banking products that have not yet launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payward Expects to Complete the Saldo Bank Acquisition in 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payward expects the acquisition of Saldo Finance Oy to close during 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the transaction can be completed, the companies must obtain the necessary regulatory approvals and satisfy customary closing conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Integration work and regulatory reviews are part of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither company has disclosed the agreed purchase price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement also does not provide a specific completion date beyond the expected 2027 timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until the deal closes, Saldo Bank remains an existing banking institution operating under its current ownership and regulatory arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any expansion of Payward&#8217;s banking services will depend on the completion of the transaction and subsequent operational decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the Deal Matters for Crypto and Traditional Banking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed acquisition reflects the growing interest among cryptocurrency businesses in developing conventional financial services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crypto exchanges traditionally focused on buying, selling, and holding digital assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, companies such as Payward are increasingly exploring payment infrastructure, lending, custody, and other banking-related products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owning an established banking institution could provide access to capabilities that are difficult to replicate through exchange services alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Payward, Saldo Bank would add existing European lending operations, deposit services, payment infrastructure, and banking technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transaction could also support efforts to bring traditional financial products and digital asset services closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, operating a regulated bank introduces responsibilities that differ significantly from running a cryptocurrency exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The long-term impact will depend on how Payward manages those requirements and develops new products after the acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kraken parent Payward&#8217;s agreement to acquire Saldo Finance Oy marks a significant step in its European banking expansion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed deal would bring Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank, along with its lending, deposit, and payment infrastructure, into Payward&#8217;s financial services business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With operations spanning several European markets, Saldo Bank could provide a foundation for introducing additional banking products to eligible customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The acquisition also complements Payward&#8217;s existing U.S. banking initiatives and regulated cryptocurrency operations in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the transaction is not yet complete, and the company has not announced a timetable for bringing Saldo&#8217;s banking services to Kraken customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With regulatory approvals still required, the expected 2027 closing will be an important milestone in determining how Payward&#8217;s broader financial services strategy develops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kraken&#8217;s parent company, Payward, has signed an agreement to acquire a European bank as part of its strategy to expand traditional banking and cryptocurrency-related financial services across Europe. Announced on October 14, 2026, the deal involves the acquisition of Finland-based Saldo Finance Oy, the parent company of Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank. The proposed acquisition could give&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,70],"tags":[65,419,86],"class_list":["post-17170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crypto-news","category-finance","tag-crypto","tag-kraken","tag-market"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kraken&#8217;s parent company, Payward, has signed an agreement to acquire a European bank as part of its strategy to expand traditional banking and cryptocurrency-related financial services across Europe. Announced on October 14, 2026, the deal involves the acquisition of Finland-based Saldo Finance Oy, the parent company of Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank. The proposed acquisition could give...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Crypto News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Digital Vibe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Digital Vibe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Digital Vibe\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/56afc0b5a42e13762ccad410f131f96a\"},\"headline\":\"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1996,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/72.png\",\"keywords\":[\"crypto\",\"Kraken\",\"market\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Crypto News\",\"Finance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/72.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/72.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/72.png\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"crypto\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Crypto News\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Crypto News\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Crypto-NEWS.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Crypto-NEWS.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":500,\"caption\":\"Crypto News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/crypto-news-desk\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/56afc0b5a42e13762ccad410f131f96a\",\"name\":\"Digital Vibe\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Digital Vibe\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cryptonewsdesk.com\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/digital-vibe\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News","og_description":"Kraken&#8217;s parent company, Payward, has signed an agreement to acquire a European bank as part of its strategy to expand traditional banking and cryptocurrency-related financial services across Europe. Announced on October 14, 2026, the deal involves the acquisition of Finland-based Saldo Finance Oy, the parent company of Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank. The proposed acquisition could give...","og_url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/","og_site_name":"Crypto News","article_published_time":"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Digital Vibe","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Digital Vibe","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/"},"author":{"name":"Digital Vibe","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#\/schema\/person\/56afc0b5a42e13762ccad410f131f96a"},"headline":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move","datePublished":"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/"},"wordCount":1996,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png","keywords":["crypto","Kraken","market"],"articleSection":["Crypto News","Finance"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/","url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/","name":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move - Crypto News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png","datePublished":"2026-10-14T20:34:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T20:34:26+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72.png","width":1080,"height":720,"caption":"crypto"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/kraken-parent-payward-agrees-to-acquire-european-bank-in-major-expansion-move\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire European Bank in Major Expansion Move"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/","name":"Crypto News","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#organization","name":"Crypto News","url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Crypto-NEWS.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Crypto-NEWS.png","width":500,"height":500,"caption":"Crypto News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/crypto-news-desk"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/#\/schema\/person\/56afc0b5a42e13762ccad410f131f96a","name":"Digital Vibe","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37e93c2e55bfd306b5f3247c0ce7dba6687533106a6330857687e3dcd20fc018?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Digital Vibe"},"url":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/author\/digital-vibe\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17172,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17170\/revisions\/17172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptonewsdesk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}